(The RMA) and in the MATTER of Notices O
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BEFORE A BOARD OF INQUIRY EAST WEST LINK PROJECT UNDER the Resource Management Act 1991 (the RMA) AND IN THE MATTER OF Notices of requirement for designation and resource consent applications by the NEW ZEALAND TRANSPORT AGENCY for the East West Link Project STATEMENT OF PRIMARY EVIDENCE OF ANDREW PETER MURRAY ON BEHALF OF THE NEW ZEALAND TRANSPORT AGENCY Walking and Cycling Dated: 12th April 2017 Barristers and Solicitors Auckland Solicitor Acting: Pat Mulligan Email: [email protected] Tel 64 9 358 2555 Fax 64 9 358 2055 PO Box 1433 DX CP24024 Auckland 1140 CONTENTS 1. SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE 1 2. INTRODUCTION 3 3. CODE OF CONDUCT 3 4. SCOPE OF EVIDENCE 3 PART A: PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND DESCRIPTION 4 5. OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT AND MY ROLE 4 PART B: ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT 11 6. ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY 11 7. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT 11 8. ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS AND PROPOSED MITIGATION 12 PART C: RESPONSES 32 9. RESPONSE TO AUCKLAND COUNCIL'S 149 ISSUES REPORT/OTHER REPORTS 32 10. RESPONSE TO SUBMISSIONS 32 11. SUMMARY 37 12. CONCLUSION 39 ATTACHMENT 1 40 ATTACHMENT 2 42 BF\56832919\1 Page 1 1. SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE 1.1 This statement describes the development of the walking and cycling elements of the Project, the existing network issues and the outcomes and effects of the Project in relation to walking and cycling. It addresses how the Project meets the key Project Objective 2: To improve safety and accessibility for cycling and walking between Māngere Bridge, Onehunga and Sylvia Park, and accessing Ōtāhuhu East: 1.2 The walking and cycling elements were developed in an iterative way, in coordination with the other elements of the Project design. It considered the Project Objectives, the key desire lines identified in the Urban and Landscape Design Framework (ULDF) and feedback from the public and stakeholders such as Auckland Transport, Auckland Council and Bike Auckland. 1.3 The assessment of the existing facilities identified a number of key issues, including: (a) Minor network gap on Orpheus Drive where pedestrians and cyclists have to use this lightly trafficked road; (b) A network gap for cyclists between the cul-de-sac end of Onehunga Mall and to the key destinations of Onehunga Town Centre / train Station, with the very high truck and traffic flows contributing to poor amenity on this route for both cyclists and pedestrians; (c) The Waikaraka Cycleway ending at Hugo Johnston Drive, without direct connections to key destinations such as Mutukāroa-Hamlins Hill and Sylvia Park Town Centre; (d) No safe crossings of the busy Mt Wellington Highway for the 1.3km section between Panama Road and Sylvia Park Town Centre (e) Poor and unsafe movements crossing SH1 at Princes Street to access Ōtāhuhu East and no connectivity east of SH1 between Ōtāhuhu East and the northern communities of Panama Road; and (f) Narrow footpaths on the Panama Road motorway overbridge. 1.4 The Project proposes creating over 25km of new or enhanced walking and cycling facilities, which is a significant addition to the existing network of only 12km of typically BF\56832919\1 Page 1 lower-standard facilities. This includes an additional 5km of shared path, 2.7km of new cycleway, an additional 2.6km of footpath and 3.1km of new recreational paths. 1.5 Although there are some existing high-quality facilities (such as the Waikaraka cycleway), there are significant gaps in the network, especially for off-road cycling facilities. The Project improves connectivity on the key links in the network, with over 3km of walking and over 5km of cycling gaps in the network being completed. 1.6 The Project would enable cycling trips to be made on off-road facilities for the full 6km journey between Taumanu Reserve and Mt Wellington Highway near the Sylvia Park Town Centre. 1.7 Based on the assessment in Technical Report 01 (TR01) of the AEE, I consider that the Project will significantly improve safety and accessibility for cycling and walking between Māngere Bridge, Onehunga Town Centre and Sylvia Park Town Centre by providing high quality, off-road and continuous links connecting these key destinations. New and enhanced north-south connections will improve connectivity to the Māngere foreshore from the residential communities north of Neilson Street, including at Onehunga Mall and Alfred Street. There will also be significant connectivity and safety improvements for the communities of Ōtāhuhu East, both via the existing route over SH1 at Princes Street, but also with a wholly new access provided east of SH1 to the adjacent community of Panama Road. I consider that these will offer not only significantly improved accessibility for these local communities, but also provide a substantial contribution to the development of the wider walking and cycling network. 1.8 Overall, I therefore consider that the Project will strongly achieve Project Objective 2, namely to improve safety and accessibility for cycling and walking between Māngere Bridge, Onehunga and Sylvia Park, and accessing Ōtāhuhu East. 1.9 I have considered the submissions related to walking and cycling and responded (some submissions were addressed in my Statement 1 on Traffic and Transport). The majority of issues raised relate to the detailed form and design of the facilities, or connections to other routes. I consider that these design issues can be addressed through a detailed design process, in particular with Auckland Transport. I have addressed this in regard to the suggested changes to Conditions requested by Auckland Transport, in my Statement 1. However, I note in this statement my support for the more targeted investigation of methods to further enhance the quality of the walking and cycling connections on Onehunga Mall, as reflected in designation condition DC11(c) in Ms Hopkins’s evidence. BF\56832919\1 Page 2 2. INTRODUCTION 2.1 My full name is Andrew Peter Murray. I have a BE (Hons) (Civil) from the University of Auckland (1990) and am a Member of the Transportation Group of IPENZ and Committee member of NZ Modelling User Group. 2.2 I currently hold the position of Technical Director at Beca Limited (Beca). I have 26 years’ experience in transportation with core experience in traffic engineering, transportation planning and transport modelling. This is the second of the two statements of primary evidence I have prepared: (a) 1: Assessment of Traffic and Transportation Effects (except walking/cycling) (b) 2: Assessment of walking/cycling facilities 2.3 My qualifications, experience and overall role in the Project are described in Statement 1, so not repeated here. 3. CODE OF CONDUCT 3.1 I confirm that I have read the Code of Conduct for Expert Witnesses contained in the Environment Court Practice Note and that I agree to comply with it. I confirm that I have considered all material facts that I am aware of that might alter or detract from the opinions that I express, and that this evidence is within my area of expertise, except where I state that I am relying on the evidence of another person. 4. SCOPE OF EVIDENCE 4.1 The purpose of my evidence is to assess the effects of the proposed walking and cycling components of the Project, as reflected in Technical Report Traffic and Transport Assessment (TR01) of the AEE. I focus on the transport functionality of the proposed walking and cycling network. Ms Hancock also addresses the connectivity of the pedestrian and cycle network from an urban design perspective, with a focus on amenity and the user experience. 4.2 My evidence is structured as follows: Part A: project description (a) Project Objectives (b) Design Process (c) Overview of Project elements BF\56832919\1 Page 3 Part B: assessment of effects by sector (a) Assessment methodology; (b) An overview of the identified current network issues; (c) Description of the existing environment relevant to my assessment; and (d) Assessment of effects of the Project. Part C: responses (a) Response to section 149G report / other reports; (b) Response to submissions; and (c) Overall conclusions. 4.3 The draft Notice of Requirement (NoR) conditions are included in Ms Hopkin’s evidence and I refer to these in my evidence. I also refer to and have relied on primary evidence provided by: (a) Noel Nancekivell (Design and Constructability); (b) Lynne Hancock (Urban Design); and (c) Scott Wickman (NZ Transport Agency). 4.4 The assessment of transport effects on the existing walking and cycling infrastructure during construction is described in the evidence of Mr Darren Wu. PART A: PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND DESCRIPTION 5. OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT AND MY ROLE Role in Project 5.1 My role has been to assist development of the Project, including the assessment of the walking and cycling effects. This has included: (a) Attended consultation workshops meetings with Auckland Transport, Bike Auckland, Auckland Council and Panuku Development Auckland in my capacity as a member of the Project design team. (b) Worked with the Project team in developing the proposed walking and cycling elements, including with the geometric and urban design teams. BF\56832919\1 Page 4 (c) Assessed the impact of the Project on pedestrians and cyclists in the operational phase (post construction); (d) Identified the mitigation required for the adverse effects of the Project; and (e) Forecast the potential usage of the new walking and cycling infrastructure. Objectives of the Project 5.2 The objectives of the Project are described in the NoR and Section 5 of Mr Wickman’s evidence. They are: (a) To improve travel times and travel reliability between businesses in the Onehunga-Penrose industrial areas and SH1 and SH20; (b) To improve safety and accessibility for cycling and walking between Māngere Bridge, Onehunga and Sylvia Park, and accessing Ōtāhuhu East; and (c) To improve journey time reliability for buses between SH20 and Onehunga Town centre.